Kangal Dog

Kangal dog, a purebred dog with large, powerful body and heavy bones, is typically used as a flock guardian, actively protecting flocks of sheep from predators like bears, jackals, and wolves. Distinguished by moderately large wide heads, drop ears, black masks, black velvety ears, and a curled tail, kangal dogs have slightly longer body than its height with a front leg that measures over one-half of the height.

Kangal Dog Pictures

History and Origin

Kangal dogs are distinct from the basic Anatolian Shepherd Dogs and Akbash. In Turkey, it is believed that it is connected to the early mastiff-types portrayed in Assyrian art. They have been traditionally used by the large chieftains and landholders in Turkey for their outstanding guarding abilities. Introduced in Britain by Charmian Biernoff in 1965, the Kangals gave birth to their first litter in 1967. The Turkish Kangal dog was first imported to USA in 1985 by two Americans Judith and David Nelson, providing the basis for Kangals in the US.

Varieties

• Turkish Kangal Dog
• Kurdish Kangal Dog

Temperament and Intelligence

Being a guardian dog breed, Kangal dogs are defensive of the human family or the domestic animals to which they bond. Despite having a natural aloofness towards strangers, appropriate training makes them sociable. Their alertness urges them respond to dangers with warnings and actions.

Care

Although the dog does not require an extensive caring regimen, inexperienced dog owners would find it difficult to pet them due to their independent intelligence. Being suitable for houses with large yards having good fencing, they do not like inactive apartment life.

• Exercise

• Grooming

• Health Problems

Kangals working in acreage get enough exercise guarding livestock as also patrolling property. Family dogs require daily jogs, long walks and socialization off-property, without which they become difficult to handle. Take alpha position and act as pack leader while out with your dog.

Kangals require little grooming throughout the year. However, their coat requires extra attention and systematic brushing-out every week during the shedding season.

Being a hardy breed, they are not susceptible to major health conditions, except from hip dysplasia, entropion and benign tumors.

Training

Instead of training them harshly, use soft treatments and food rewards, showing true emotions like friendly pats or praises. The puppies should only be patted or fed by his caretaker or owner and but not strangers to prevent them from becoming subservient.

Feeding

The dog kangal should be provided with a low protein dry food. A barley meal produced from boiled or hulled barley is routinely given to these dogs in Turkey.

Differences: Kangal Dog vs. Wolf

Points of Difference	Kangal Dog	Wolf
Common Names	Karabash	Gray wolf, Timber wolf, Western wolf, Red wolf
Coat	Moderately short, dense double coat with harsh outer coat and very soft, dense undercoat	Dense, fluffy winter fur; short underfur with coarse guard hairs
Color	Solid colors like steel gray, light dun, pale dull gold with white markings on chin, chest, and feet	Predominantly mottled gray; black, brown, red, and pure white are also possible
Higher classification	Dog	Canis
Height	Male 29-32 inches (74-81 cm); Female 28-31 inches (71-79 cm)	31.5-33.5 inches (80-85 cm)
Weight	Male 50-66 kg (110-145 lb); Female 41-59 kg (90-130 lb)	Male about 50 kg (110 lb); Female about 40 kg (88 lb)
Size of Litter	5-10 puppies	5-6 puppies
Life Expectancy	12-15 years	6-8 years on average

Interesting Facts

• Working kangals usually station themselves on high vantage points to look on to their flock, sometimes digging holes to keep cool on hot days.
• When threatened, they motivate the sheep to assemble around them by giving an alarm call with their erect ears and tail.
• Specialized wolf killers, called kurtcul kangals, fight with wolves if they are not successful in frightening the predators.